Hello all! So, so sorry for being gone so long. I was in Germany on an exchange with my school, and you know, I didn't exactly have much time to write over there in between climbing the Kӧlner Dom (the Cologne cathedral), sprinting to catch a bus in Berlin, visiting a castle in Brühl, visiting Beethoven's birthplace in Bonn, and popping into the Netherlands for a day. It was a truly amazing experience, and I actually wrote this while on the 8 hour bus ride to Berlin! I hope you like it and that it is a suitable apology for me being gone so long. Tschuss! ~Cheylock
Together Again: a HRE/Germany x Italy Drabble
Feliciano woke, drenched in a cold sweat for the third time that week. He kept having the same dream over and over again. It was Holy Rome, during the war...he kept imagining the boy he loved so much being torn apart by all the larger countries. It was too much for him, so he never stayed asleep long during them.
Feli had never seen Holy Rome again after he left that bright spring day in the courtyard. Before he left, though, he had given him something. It was a small necklace on a leather chord, and Feliciano wore it under his clothes constantly now. He had since he was a very small country, and would continue to until he was no more. It was a German Iron Cross. None of the other countries knew about it, and honestly? He didn't want them to. It felt like a special connection between himself and Holy Rome, and he didn't want that ruined because of one of the other countries. They could be awfully mean sometimes...
Italy got out of bed and slowly made his way down the hall to Ludwig's bedroom. He'd been staying with him indefinitely, as his own country was going through some financial hardships. Without making any noise, he opened the door, only to be met with Ludwig sitting up in bed with reading glasses perched on the bridge of his nose and a romance novel in his hand. Not that Feliciano would know that, of course. It was in German, after all.
"Ludwig?" he asked softly, causing the German's head to snap up and close the book quickly.
"Feliciano. Vy didn't you knock?" he asked, a small blush creeping onto his cheeks. He was still wearing his black tank top, however, now a pair of black sweatpants replaced his normal uniform trousers.
"Sorry..." he said, smiling shyly at him. "I-a had a nightmare, and I was-a wondering if I could sleep here with you?"
Ludwig's expression immediately softened. It was clear that the poor Italian was rather scared, so he moved over in his bed of make room for him. "Ja, I don't see vy not..." he murmured, patting the spot next to him in invitation.
Feliciano smiled a little bit and went over to cuddle up under the blanket next to Ludwig. When he did, he muttered a small "Gratzie" and went to close his eyes, but something stopped him. In the corner of the room was a small wooden push broom. He sat up and looked over at Ludwig, who had gone back to his book.
"What's that?" he asked, gesturing over to the corner that housed the cleaning instrument.
"Hm?" he hummed, not looking up from the novel.
"The broom, Ludwig. The push broom. Where did-a you get that?" he asked, taking the book out of Ludwig's hands, dog-earing the page, and setting it on the nightstand.
Ludwig felt his pulse skyrocket. Of course he knew who Feliciano was. He'd known ever since he'd found him in the tomato crate. He was his little Italy. He had never told him who he was, though. As far as Feliciano knew, Holy Rome had died in the war. "I...um..." he stammered, a little unsure of what to say.
"Answer me, Ludwig...please..." he said, taking his hand. He had to know if this meant what he thought it did.
Ludwig sighed. There was no point in denying it any longer. "I got it...from the love of my life," he said softly, looking over into Feliciano's now wide amber eyes. "Before I vent to var."
Feliciano put a hand over his mouth and looked at him with eyes filled with shock. "H-holy Rome?" he asked softly, reaching up and gently running his hand down his cheek. "Is it-a really you?"
Ludwig nodded. "Ja...hallo, Feli..." he said with a shy smile. "Miss me?"
Feli had tears of joy in his eyes now, and he tackle hugged the poor German, wrapping his arms around his neck and burying his face in his neck. "Sì, idiota!" he giggled. "Of course I did!"
Ludwig was a bit taken off guard by the hug, but after a moment he wrapped his arms around his waist and held him close. It had been so long. Holy Rome and Italy, finally together again. "Ich liebe dich, Feliciano..." he murmured. "I never stopped loving you, even ven I vas gone...even ven I kept my identity a secret...even now." Salty tears spilled over his own eyes now, but he didn't care. He finally had his Italy back.
Feli grinned and, before giving Ludwig the opportunity to protest, he kissed him sweetly. As sudden as the kiss was, though, it ended. He pulled away and kissed the tip of his nose. "Tì amo troppo..." he murmured happily. He then reached under the collar of his own shirt and took off the Iron Cross pendant. He held it out to Ludwig. "And I believe-a this belongs to you."
Hope you guys liked it! I have my creative writing spirit back now that I've gotten out of my box, so expect way more drabbles to come! Also, expect Ludwig/Gilbert to be featured in a lot of these, as inspiration hit me all the time while I was in Germany, so I have all sorts of prompts. Enjoy guys! It's good to be back. ~Cheylock